Your Resume Font Matters!

When writing a resume, we put so much thought and consideration into what we’re going to say, how we’re going to say it, how it should look and what color paper to use, that we often overlook a crucial component . . . font selection.

Choosing an appropriate font, while seemingly minor, can have a major impact on the overall look of your resume. While it is not as important as the content of your resume, it does lend itself to the overall presentation and visual appeal. A resume that is pleasing to look at will grab the reader’s initial attention.

As a default, the majority of job seekers use Times New Roman. As a personal rule, I never use this font. It is completely overused and the last thing you want to do is blend in with all of the other job seekers. Your font selection is a subtle way to set yourself apart from the crowd.

Consider some of these other font selections: Book Antiqua, Constantia, Garamond, Bembo or Cambria. These are by no means the only alternatives; experiment with different fonts until you find one that you like. Just make sure that your selection is crisp, clean and easy to read. No fancy calligraphy fonts, please!

Keep in mind that a size 12 font in one style may be very different from a size 12 font in another style. Using size 12 font is not the rule, if you need to go down to size 10 that is perfectly acceptable. You want to find the balance between too big and too small. Using a font that is too big can appear juvenile whereas a font that is too small limits readability.

A carefully chosen font is an understated way to customize your resume. Don’t underestimate the effect it can have on your resume. Try it for yourself and see the difference it makes!